Despite dozens of properties across the US and internationally, Donald Trump has never quite been able to crack the Washington, D.C. market—until now.

Trump, his daughter Ivanka, and sons Don Jr. and Eric flew into D.C. Tuesday (on a private jet, naturally) to announce a $200 million investment that will turn the city's iconic 114-year-old Old Post Office into a 270-room luxury hotel that will feature presidential suites with bulletproof windows and a nine-story atrium lobby, according to USA Today.

"Cost is no object, 'cause if it were, I wouldn't do it," Trump said, according to The Huffington Post. Trump, of course, has had for of his businesses declare bankruptcy in recent years, but he sounds pretty confident about this venture.Continue reading...

Donald Trump is not about to get out-bullied. The real estate mogul and celebrity designer is threatening to sue the organizer of a petition that urges Macy's to "Dump Trump" and its varied line of merchandise under the Trump name.

Through a letter from his lawyer, Trump has threatened a $25 million suit against Angelo Carusone, who started the drive on SignOn.org urging Macy's to sever ties with the lightning-rod personality. Trump's attorney alleges that Carusone is "tortiously interfer[ing] with Mr. Trump's business and contractual relationships" and accuses Carusone of "mob-like bullying and coercion" and "intentionally disseminating misinformation."

Carusone's response was to release a letter from his own lawyer defending his First Amendment rights, as well to call Trump a "bully" and describe Trump's brand as "consequence-free bullying and chicanery" in a press release. He told brandchannel that "threatening to sue someone for $25 million who lives in a studio apartment" and "to silence them—I'd say it's fair to call that 'bullying.'"Continue reading...

When it comes to personal branding, it's hard to trump Donald Trump. The self-proclaimed $3 billion brand name may have been conspicuously absent from the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, but don't count Donald Trump out just yet.

Flexing his publicity-prone muscles, Donald Trump gave the media and blogosphere a New Year's gift by proclaiming that he wouldn't rule out a run for president as an independent should the Republicans choose the "wrong candidate." In fact, a report surfaced that a group of Trump supporters had filed paperwork in Texas to allow him to run as a third-party candidate for the "Make America Great Again Party."

Whether it's true or not, Trump continues to keep the political fire burning — and awareness of his name high.Continue reading...

BP's new commercial featuring CEO Tony Hayward hit YouTube and US TV yesterday. The damage control isn't just aimed at BP's brand, but the "gaffe-prone" Hayward and images such as AP's latest. After addressing BP on CNN last night, a "furious" President Obama is heading to the disaster site again today. And crowdsourcing solutions to the spill is officially a cottageindustry.